Sunday, May 09, 2010

Full-time, secure staff accompanist openings are starting to seem downright mythical. I also find it curious that the collaborative piano field has become so widely recognized, while the university collaborative pianist position (AKA staff accompanist) has remained the same (untenured, often part-time).

I wonder how many of the college staff accompanist positions around North America were ever advertised in the College Music Society, though. At the sessional/adjunct/lecturer level, many of these positions are routinely filled with either local or unofficial job searches, if any. And besides, if your staff accompanist position happens to be at the support-staff level, why even bother?

3 comments:

I have actually noticed several staff accompanying positions this year in the CMS postings. What I find ironic, though, is that they are now mostly called "collaborative piano." So music schools "get" what the role is, but they still don't value it enough to make it tenure-track.

If you read this - I am interested in your comment about North Texas. I am thinking of moving there to freelance - (It's where I did my undergrad.) I'm following up on leads like this - are you from that area, and would you be willing to elaborate on your comment?